U.S. Fish & Wildlife's Latest Decision
On March 21, 2024, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (FWS) announced their intention to proceed with their plan to remove The Pink House from the land at 60 Plum Island Turnpike, after declaring that land trade options had been exhausted.
This announcement came after eight years of Support The Pink House Inc (STPH) working tirelessly to find a solution to save the house - included paying all expenses required by the Fish & Wildlife to prepare the house for trade. Read more here.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife's new plan is to possibly put the house up for auction so it can be moved away from the property. This is an option which has been proposed since 2015 but is not popular with the community, nor is it very realistic.
Demolishing the Pink House will result in our community forever losing a beloved iconic landmark. A landmark that brings economic benefits to our area as it attracts visitors, photographers, painters, and other artisans to our local towns. The Pink House is an asset of the United States. Demolishing it is also counter to the FWS's mission to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
This announcement came after eight years of Support The Pink House Inc (STPH) working tirelessly to find a solution to save the house - included paying all expenses required by the Fish & Wildlife to prepare the house for trade. Read more here.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife's new plan is to possibly put the house up for auction so it can be moved away from the property. This is an option which has been proposed since 2015 but is not popular with the community, nor is it very realistic.
Demolishing the Pink House will result in our community forever losing a beloved iconic landmark. A landmark that brings economic benefits to our area as it attracts visitors, photographers, painters, and other artisans to our local towns. The Pink House is an asset of the United States. Demolishing it is also counter to the FWS's mission to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
OUR STANCE
It’s inconceivable that a solution has not been accepted by FWS. They have had plenty of time and plenty of options, and we're mystified as to why they couldn't, or wouldn't, allow one to work -- and reap all the benefits to their mission they said it would produce. Their criteria kept changing and becoming more restrictive, eventually making the land trade solution become impossible by their own creation. In the past few months, we have brought them as many as 17 options that seemed to fit their criteria, several of which were seriously considered, but all ended up being rejected.
As long as the Pink House is still standing, we’re still standing strong!
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSE more than we can say!!
We're not giving up and we hope you won't either!
Taking down the house or moving it remains to be a bad idea
As long as the Pink House is still standing, we’re still standing strong!
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSE more than we can say!!
We're not giving up and we hope you won't either!
Taking down the house or moving it remains to be a bad idea
- The evidence of public support to keep the house standing and see it restored according to our plan is overwhelming. The people have spoken -- They’ve called and written to Moulton, Markey and Warren's offices, and we have 3,000+ petition signatures and 1000 postcards so far, 8,000 Social Media Followers and a mailing list growing daily - local icon - cottage industry - important to artists & community -
- Neither U.S. Fish & Wildlife's proposal to demo TPH and either build a platform with parking or let it return to grass is the best use of a nearly half a million dollar asset, paid for by our tax dollars.
- This is an Asset of the United States which has been allowed to fall into disrepair
Why is The Pink House Important?
- CULTURAL ICON - inspiring thousands of artists, photographers, and visitors per year
- ECONOMIC DRIVER - bringing interest and increasing tourism to the area
- HOUSE HAZARD CONDITION IRRELEVANT - The house CAN be restored by professionals who are fully aware of its condition. STPH's Restoration Partner or any restorer can tackle any issues after the swap including any mold, asbestos, etc.
- WASTE OF A VALUABLE ASSET - Demolishing the Pink House would result in the FWS forgoing close to $500,000 that could be utilized to save land that truly has highly ecological value and serves the FWS mission (see below).
What can YOU DO? KEEP SPEAKING UP & TAKING ACTION
CALL ELECTED OFFICIALS - ASK them to:
Senator Ed Markey
SUBMIT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WE need A LOT of letters arriving all the time! Your letters will keep the conversation going, and that is a valuable contribution.
VOLUNTEER
Please fill out the Volunteer section on our website contact page!
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWS, POSTS & SHARES
FUNDRAISE:
KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS
Read our News tab regularly on our website.
Join our Newsletter
FIND LAND TO TRADE
We will keep land coming in until Fish and Wildlife accepts one! Talk this up to friends, neighbors, coworkers & family!
Even if your land does not meet the exact criteria, you never know what may work… such as parcels from others, can be combined for enough acreage! Please email us with the Parcel number and address to: info@supporthepinkhouse.com
CRITERIA:
1. Salt marsh and/or adjacent upland habitats, access to water or a road, with equal or greater ecological value to FWS. Most marsh land is worth about $1000-1200 an acre, some is $20-26,000 per acre, so reaching $400K is a lot of acreage.
2. Long parcels that abut the Parker River Refuge in NEWBURY ROWLEY, IPSWICH, even if you have a home or structures at the front, off the road. FWS is looking to have access to Rt. 1A or roads behind it that lead to it. If you are willing to carve out a parcel in back, get market value from our Restoration Partner (and enjoy tax savings), and still see it undeveloped as conserved by FWS, pls let us know asap!
3. Upland in the price range that is near any Refuge or FWS owned land that may have value for a use like storing equipment, near a light house they own, or rescue boats they can get to and from a road to use in flood zones.
** Deed and land must be unencumbered **
CALL ELECTED OFFICIALS - ASK them to:
- STOP THE DEMO/AUCTION PROCESS NOW
- WORK WITH STPH to solve this efficiently instead of favoring FWS. They represent YOU not FWS.
- ASK FWS to accept land already offered
- OR get the Secretary of Interior to declare it surplus, where FWS will still get market value (eliminates the need for swap land)
- OR write a bill ---or be open to the bill STPH's attorneys can provide
- THIS WILL BE A WIN for ALL -- the elected officials, FWS and the community.
Senator Ed Markey
- Phone: MA: (617) 565-8519 DC:(202) 224-2742
- Email: jim_cantwell@markey.senate.gov, cc: Liam_Horsman@markey.senate.gov
- Phone: MA: (978) 531-1669 DC:(202) 225-8020
- Email: Rick.Jakious@mail.house.gov , cc: Seth.Moulton@mail.house.gov ,
- Phone: MA: (617) 565-3170 DC: (202) 224-4543
- Email: Janice_rottenberg@warren.senate.gov, cc: Caroline_freedman@warren.senate.gov
SUBMIT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WE need A LOT of letters arriving all the time! Your letters will keep the conversation going, and that is a valuable contribution.
- Newburyport Daily News: 400-words through their online form at: https://www.newburyportnews.com/site/forms/online_services/letter
- Boston Globe: 200-word letters should be sent exclusively to the Globe at letter@globe.com, and must include the sender’s name, address, and phone number. They will only contact you (within 10 days max) if they are going to use yours. Please keep trying!
- Write to any local paper! The further the word goes, the better. We have signatures from people all over New England wanting to keep The Pink House.
- You are opposed to the demolition or auction (thus must be moved) and want the Fish & Wildlife Service to accept an offered land swap. The FWS will collect many benefits, and to let STPH’s Partner restore it.
- Businesses benefit from TPH bringing people here from everywhere, who then shop, eat, rent or buy here, especially in the off-season.
- You’re an artist who supplements their income from Pink House art.
- How culture, architecture, history and nature make the area unique and are part of why you live and pay taxes here.
- Your cause earned money through Pink House Art at a fundraiser/charity event.
VOLUNTEER
Please fill out the Volunteer section on our website contact page!
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWS, POSTS & SHARES
- Comment on our posts, as well as liking them.
- Post on our social media but also on your own.
- Your own posts reach more, but sharing from others really helps too!
FUNDRAISE:
- Consider doing a Facebook fundraiser or own event for the Pink House.
- Send a check to Support The Pink House Inc, 61 Pleasant Street, PO Box 131, Newburyport, MA 1950
- Use the Donate Button here on our website
KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST NEWS
Read our News tab regularly on our website.
Join our Newsletter
FIND LAND TO TRADE
We will keep land coming in until Fish and Wildlife accepts one! Talk this up to friends, neighbors, coworkers & family!
Even if your land does not meet the exact criteria, you never know what may work… such as parcels from others, can be combined for enough acreage! Please email us with the Parcel number and address to: info@supporthepinkhouse.com
CRITERIA:
1. Salt marsh and/or adjacent upland habitats, access to water or a road, with equal or greater ecological value to FWS. Most marsh land is worth about $1000-1200 an acre, some is $20-26,000 per acre, so reaching $400K is a lot of acreage.
2. Long parcels that abut the Parker River Refuge in NEWBURY ROWLEY, IPSWICH, even if you have a home or structures at the front, off the road. FWS is looking to have access to Rt. 1A or roads behind it that lead to it. If you are willing to carve out a parcel in back, get market value from our Restoration Partner (and enjoy tax savings), and still see it undeveloped as conserved by FWS, pls let us know asap!
3. Upland in the price range that is near any Refuge or FWS owned land that may have value for a use like storing equipment, near a light house they own, or rescue boats they can get to and from a road to use in flood zones.
** Deed and land must be unencumbered **